On the Path to Success(ful Bliss): Top Yoga Destinations

By LL Editorial Staff

In need of some soul searching, you’re determined to bring out the Yogi in you. Ready to embark on a journey to get in touch with your inner being - and perhaps gain a glimpse of enlightenment - your mind, body and soul settle into a deep sense of profound peace. But before you drop everything and go, let’s be perfectly honest about something here: your mind, body and soul always journey in style. This journey certainly doesn’t need to be any different. You can still reap the benefits of Eastern philosophy without swearing off all earthly pleasure and comfort, which is why we suggest you grab your mat and favorite yoga pants, and start focusing on deepening your breath while we take out the stress (but keep the style) of planning your perfect blissful getaway. You’ll look and feel amazing as you find nirvana in a manner that’s truly your own at any one of our picks for the World’s Best Yoga Destinations.

First we suggest you take the trek to 7 Centers Yoga Arts, the original yoga studio of one of the world’s premiere energy hotspots: Sedona, Arizona. A Mecca for the spiritually curious, stunning Sedona is a must-see for any yoga junkie. Allow the spectacular rocky vistas to take your breath away… then reconnect with it as you spend two to three days working intensely at balancing your seven chakras through various yoga practices. Enjoy organic meals, participate in workshops and simply exist in the sanctuary of your newly zen'd-out mind. And if you still haven’t had enough of Sedona when the retreat ends, find yourself a room at the chic Sedona Rouge Hotel & Spa and keep the good vibes coming.

Channeling your higher self often means taking a step away from your comfort zone. For your next yoga retreat, consider getting off the beaten path at Aqua Wellness Resort in Tola, Nicaragua. As the sun warms the Pacific along a beautiful crescent of coastline, make your way to the ocean-view yoga deck for a fabulous morning class. It’s often said that riding the perfect wave is another way to reach that zen-like state, and surfing is another one of the holistic activities included in your Luxury Link vacation experience at Aqua Wellness.

Nexdoor to Nicaragua, the Costa Rican mantra reads “Pura Vida,” or “Pure Life.” I don’t know about you, but that certainly strikes me as just the place to lie out a yoga mat. Apparently many agree, which is why you can purify your inner life with a healing retreat into the Central American hillside via the El Silencio Lodge & Spa in Bajos del Toro. Absorb the energy of the lush rainforest as you deepen your practice in one of the world’s most stunning locations of natural beauty. And if you’re so inclined, you’ll even find time to balance serenity with a little bit of action by trying out some zip-lining or enjoying world famous surf. Regardless of what you’re looking for, you’re sure to find the whole(-istic) package by following your bliss down to Costa Rica.